Whitman Open Space Panel Finalizes 10-Year Action Plan Timelines Before Public Meeting

WHITMAN — July 9, 2025 — Whitman's Open Space and Recreation Plan Steering Committee reviewed all 10 goals of a draft 10-year action plan at its July 9 meeting, assigning timelines ahead of a public input session rescheduled to Tuesday, July 15, at the library. The committee placed ADA audits of town-owned open spaces and feasibility studies for a skate park and dog park in the near-term one-to-three-year window, while zoning reforms to support conservation subdivisions and formal stewardship of the Whitman Town Forest were pushed to the three-to-seven and seven-to-10-year ranges respectively. Site walks at Bear Meadow, Hobart Meadow, and Camp Alice Carlton revealed potential for a regional trail network connecting Whitman to East Bridgewater, Abington, and Rockland, possibly linking to the Bay Circuit Trail. Recreation Commission member Ryan Tolley warned that the Recreation Department's budget "was zeroed out this year," complicating near-term programming goals. The public meeting, originally set for July 17, was moved after the library reduced its hours due to budget cuts.